Ushas (Cult of Kara-Kai)

USHAS

Real Name: Ushas

Identity/Class: Human, mystic powers

Occupation: Priestess of the Cult of Kara-Kai

Group Membership: Cult of Kâli

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Iron Fist, Nekra, Ninja, Colleen Wing, Professor Wing

Known Relatives: Shaya (sister, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York

First Appearance: Marvel Premiere#21 (March, 1975)

Powers/Abilities: Ushas wielded a pair of nunchuks which allowed her to generate flashes of light. The nunchuks could also strike with superhuman force, shattering stone.

History: (Marvel Premiere#21)- Shaya and Ushas directed the capture of Professor Wing, an archaeologist who had obtained the Sacred Volume of Kâli. Placing him under their guard along with his daughter Colleen, they found themselves facing their ally, Iron Fist. After Shaya used her cloak to wrap them in darkness, Ushas unleashed her nunchuks on Iron Fist, and had him beaten until he toppled their statue of Kâli, forcing Ushas to smash it apart to save their followers' lives. She was weakened by this ordeal.

(Marvel Premiere#22)- As Iron Fist and the Ninja engaged in combat, Shaya used the opportunity to bring Ushas to safety, despite her protestations.

(Spider-Woman I#16 (fb))- Shaya and Ushas were put to death by their own cultists when the mutant Nekra supplanted them as the cult's leader after offering herself as a sacrifice, but surviving their attempts to kill her. She demanded that Shaya and Ushas do the same, sending them to their doom.

Comments: Created by Tony Isabella, Arvell Jones and Vince Colletta.

Shaya and Ushas' powers of light and darkness-- plus the connection to Kâli-- remind one of the Shroud and his one-time foe Firefly

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Ushas should not be confused with:

Brandy Ash, ally of Daredevil, @ Daredevil I#271
Crimson Ash, arsonist, @ Marvel Fanfare I#15
Skip Ash, father of Brandy Ash, @ Daredevil I#267
Volcana Ash, of Earth-Killraven, ally of Killraven, @ Amazing Adventures II#27
Ashake, ancestor of Storm, @ New Mutants I#32
Ashcan, Alex Woolcat, abused child with superhuman powers, @ Incredible Hulk II#339
Ash Hotel, dwelling of the Enchantress, @ Thor I#491
Ashema the Listener, Celestial, patron of Counter-Earth-Franklin, @ Heroes Reborn: The Return#1
Carl Asher, father of Mike Asher, @ Brotherhood#1
Donna Asher, mother of Mike Asher, @ Brotherhood#1
Ezra Asher, vampire, ally of Saint Cyrus Leviticus, @ Wolverine: Black Rio
Mike Asher, member of X's Brotherhood, @ Brotherhood#1
Ashkani of Earth-Amalgam, cult from the future, @ X-Citing X-Patrol#1
George Ashton, encountered Pandora on Shadow Mountain, @ Chamber of Darkness#3
Ashtoreth, Hyborian era godess, @ Conan the Barbarian#71
Ashur, Atlantean, @ New Warriors II#3
Ashurbanipal, brother of Shamash-Shum-Ukin, @ Savage Sword of Conan#7
Blythe Ashwin, of the Ultraverse, @ Mantra: Spear of Destiny#2

Images taken from:
Marvel Premiere#21, page 15, panel 3
Marvel Premiere#21, page 17, panel 5

Marvel Premiere#22 (June, 1975) - Tony Isabella (writer), Arvell Jones (pencils), Aubrey Bradford (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Spider-Woman I#16 (July, 1979) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Carmine Infantino (pencils), Al Gordon (inks), Roger Stern (editor)

First Posted: 11/15/2004
Last updated: 11/15/2004

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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